The papers of last Sunday announced a sudden stroke by
Turkey. The Porte has informed the Powers of its decision to abolish the judicial and financial Capitulations. It is obvious that there can be no complacent acceptance of this gross attempt by Turkey to take advantage of the fact that all the Powers are embarrassed by war. We should think that even Germany must earnestly desire that her nationals should continue to enjoy the safeguards in Turkey which experience has shown to be essential, though we cannot be confident that Germany will not postpone the common interests to some immediate policy of her own. However that may be, the Triple Entente Powers will of course make it plain that, even though their hands may be too full to deal with Turkey now, they have noted the action of the Porte as an offence, and will take care when the occasion arises to see that Turkey makes amends and reverses her impossible decision. She will discover in the end that they are not to be trifled with, and that they will punish her if she violates her treaty obligations.
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